By: Tom Farris—
JOLIET, IL—Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group is pleased to announce its merger with Coldwell Banker Lunsford of Muncie, Indiana, adding one additional office to its Indiana territory. This makes 15 offices operated by Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group in Indiana since the recent addition of 14 offices resulting from merging with Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber, previously headquartered in Fort Wayne.
This merger extends the company’s coverage farther into central Indiana to strengthen its overall real estate industry position in the state. Coldwell Banker Lunsford will re-brand to Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group in Fall 2018.
“The merging of Coldwell Banker Lunsford and Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group is a natural fit and couldn’t have come at a better time,” says Mike Prodehl, President and CEO of Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group. “We haven’t skipped a beat since the Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber merger announcement, insuring we continue offering the first class real estate service our Indiana customers expect. Now, the Lunsford team can join their fellow Indiana colleagues and take advantage of the resources of a 15 office network in the state and 66 office network throughout the Midwest. We are thrilled to have them as part of the #1 Coldwell Banker franchise affiliate in Indiana.”
Michael Lunsford founded his Muncie-based real estate business in 1983 with the acquisition of the Allardt, Dailey & McKibben real estate firm, and then purchased Canan Realty in 1984. Lunsford’s firm has been a market leader since 1986. Lunsford Real Estate acquired Cale Real Estate and then affiliated with the Coldwell Banker franchise in 1998 as Coldwell Banker Lunsford, offering residential and commercial sales divisions. In 2017, Coldwell Banker Lunsford sold 803 properties with a sales volume of $105 million. Susan Miller is Vice President of the Residential Division, and Monte Brown is Vice President of the Commercial Division. Coldwell Banker Lunsford has a team of 36 professional agents and a 3-person support staff. All will continue in their current roles. Mike Lunsford will serve as Managing Broker of the new Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group Muncie area entity.
“We are excited to join forces with Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group and continue to grow the successes our agents have achieved, and utilize Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group’s expanded technology, marketing, training, relocation services and agent career development services – all which directly benefit our sellers and buyers,” stated Mike Lunsford. “The merger is aligned with our firm’s long-term strategy of preserving our business culture, providing even-greater opportunities for our agents, expanding operational resources and continuing our legacy of sound leadership and community involvement.”
In 2017, Coldwell Banker Lunsford earned the title of the number one office in North America – for offices with 21-35 sales agents. In 2016, the firm received the Coldwell Banker Premier Office Gold Award, and the Coldwell Banker Lunsford Commercial office was named the number one office in the Indiana. Since affiliating with Coldwell Banker in 1998, the firm has received many Coldwell Banker awards and recognition for real estate sales volume and units sold.
In 2017, the combined sales volume of all 65 offices between Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group, Coldwell Banker Lunsford and Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber totaled over $4 billion generated from 22,910 transactions. When merged, the company will have over 1,500 licensed Realtors®; approximately 800 in Illinois, 375 in Wisconsin and 325 in Indiana and southwest Michigan. For more information about Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group, go to ColdwellHomes.com or contact Tommy King at tking@coldwellhomes.com.
